Transcript Hu 300

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HU 300
Unit 8 Overview
Cinema
Whether it’s a sci-fi thriller or a documentary,
films employ many humanities elements. In
this unit we’ll discover how film uses the
elements of art, literature, music, myth,
morality, and happiness in order to
communicate its messages.
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Before we start though I want to share my
Upper Michigan slides for this week’s class
introduction ….
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NORTHERN MICHIGAN SLIDE OF THE WEEK
Sunset at Indian Lake
Manistique, Michigan
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NORTHERN MICHIGAN SLIDE OF THE WEEK
Tranquility at Indian Lake
Manistique, Michigan
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Now we are going to get into our class topics for
this week about Cinema.
We will read about genres and examples of
filmmaking, and study the impact upon
audiences of this powerful medium of
expression.
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This week you will read about genres and
examples of filmmaking, and study the impact
upon audiences of this powerful medium of
expression.
Read the chapter "Cinema" in The Art of Being
Human. Students can access PDF copies of
the textbook in Doc Sharing.
Also refer to the Web resources for this unit.
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Additional Resources for Cinema
A resource for short online films with various points of
view: POV
Independent films that you can stream online
An Oscar nominated cinematographer, Christian Berger,
shows a series of images and discusses why a
modern filmmaker might choose to work in Black and
White, instead of in color.
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Reading
Read the chapter “Cinema” in your textbook.
Web Resources
View the Cinema resources.
Discussion
Participate in this week's Discussion.
50 points
Seminar
Participate in a synchronous discussion of unit
concepts.
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Question 1
Watch the 20-minute short film “Plastic Bag.”
http://futurestates.tv/episodes/plastic-bag
As you watch, evaluate how the film demonstrates elements
from (at least two other units in) this course. For example,
are there mythic elements? How are images used as art?
What is the story and can you relate to it? Does the film
offer a moral dilemma? How does music function in the
film? How is happiness is addressed?
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Question 2
You have been hired as a film critic. Choose a movie you have
seen that either reinforces stereotypes about groups of
people, or works to break down those stereotypes. For
example, what is the film’s portrayal of soldiers, nurses,
minority groups, or members of certain religions? You do
not need to discuss these groups, but use this as a list to
get you thinking. Take a critical view and discuss what
evidence is presented that leads us to conclusions about
one group of people in the film. It may be helpful to refer to
“Notes on Critical Viewing” at the end of this week’s
reading.
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Write a brief review of this movie, including a
summary of the plot, discussion of the treatment
of groups in the film, an assessment of the overall
message, and a star rating (1 out of 5, with 1
meaning “Do not watch this film” and 5 meaning
the film is “strongly recommended). There is not a
set length, but you must give the reader a clear
understanding of your point, the connections, and
what you believe they communicate.
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The chapter discusses a variety of genres
in film. In seminar, we will discuss these
genres, as well as the purpose of film
and its techniques.
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Which genres appeal most to you? Are
there some film genres that you have
not seen? Why do some genres appeal
while others do not?
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What do you think the purpose of film is?
Should it communicate a moral lesson?
Should it merely entertain?
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What impact do special effects have on a
film? Do you need a strong plot and
characters, or can special effects be
sufficient?
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Your Final Project for this course will be a
virtual time capsule. A time capsule is a
grouping of items for future discovery.
For our purposes, we will imagine that
our time capsule will be buried at the
end of the course and opened 100 years
later.
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The goal of our capsule is to provide an
overview of what you believe future
generations should remember about the
twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
The project can be composed in Microsoft
Word or Powerpoint. It can include
multimedia if you wish. It should include
the following eight parts:
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A letter of introduction to tell someone in the
future about your day-to-day life. What is your
daily experience? Tell this person about your
habits, your customs, your feelings about our
present time, and your dreams for the future.
An example of morality and decision-making in
current culture in 100 words or more.
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Your definition of happiness in 100 words or
more, including how you came to this view.
Next, you will also choose an artifact for each
of the following areas (4-8). You will explain
the item in one paragraph, giving it context,
and describing it. Then spend at least one
paragraph justifying its inclusion in the time
capsule:
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Why is this item worth preserving for the
future, and what does it communicate
about our culture today? Why this object
above all the other possibilities?
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A significant literary work (poem, short story,
play, or novel.)
A significant example of art or architecture.
A significant song or group of songs.
A significant film.
A significant item from popular culture (a toy,
gadget, fad, etc.)
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Your final project must be original work written
for this class. This means that you must be the
author (turning in a project written by
someone else is plagiarism and will not be
tolerated) and you must not have turned in
your project (or another version of it) for a
grade in another class.
The final project will be due at the end of Unit 9.
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Are there any questions for me?
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The End
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